Ezekiel Elliott to drop appeal of six-game suspension, will return December 24

Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images(DALLAS) — Star running back Ezekiel Elliott will drop his appeal of a six-game suspension related to accusations of domestic violence, representatives for the Dallas Cowboys second-year player said Wednesday.

The decision means Elliott will sit out the full six games and return to the team on December 24 against the Seattle Seahawks. A hearing for a potential preliminary injunction had been scheduled for December 1 before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but with the case unlikely to be resolved before the NFL’s postseason, Elliott will serve the ban now and return in time for possible playoff games.

“In consultation with the NFLPA and his lawyers, and after a careful deliberation and review of recent Second Circuit decisions, Mr. Elliott has decided to forgo any further appeals and will serve his remaining suspension,” a statement from Elliott’s agents reads. “This decision arises from a practical assessment of the current legal landscape.”

“Mr. Elliott’s desire for closure is in his best interests, as well as the best interests of his teammates, family and friends,” the statement added. “This decision is in no way an admission of any wrongdoing, and Mr. Elliott is pleased that the legal fight mounted by he and his team resulted in disclosing many hidden truths regarding this matter as well as publicly exposing the NFL’s mismanagement of its disciplinary process.”

Elliott has maintained his innocence throughout the process, which began in July 2016 when a former girlfriend accused him of domestic violence in Columbus, Ohio, where he went to college. Authorities in Ohio did not press charges against Elliott, but a 13-month NFL investigation ended in the league deciding it had “persuasive evidence” to impose a six-game suspension.

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